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Existential constructions in some Cilento dialects

Variation and change

ORCiD logo with link | University of Naples Federico II
 | University of Naples Federico II
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Abstract
This article discusses the semantic constraints on existential constructions in some southern Italo-Romance varieties from inner Cilento (southern Campania), in light of the current debate on have and be existentials in Italo-Romance, their morphosyntax, semantics, pragmatics and diachrony. The existence of a change in progress in the distribution of have and be existentials in the varieties investigated is detected, involving the gradual penetration of the pattern with the copula be, under the influence of Italian, a phenomenon that is well advanced with inverse, deictic locatives and presentational existentials.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Theoretical background: Existential (have/be) patterns
  • 4.Alternation of be/have existentials, proform grammaticalization and evidentiality
  • 5.Conclusions
  • Acknowledgments
  • Notes
  • Author queries
  • References
References (49)
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